Celebrate 25 Years with Arts of Life!

Arts of Life opens a satellite studio in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood at the First Presbyterian Church, increasing the accessibility of our programming to artists on the South Side.

In partnership with Sho + 1 gallery, Arts of Life exhibits at Art Fair Tokyo, the largest art fair in Japan and the oldest in Asia, in March; Art Fair Asia Fukuoka in September; and Art Collaboration Kyoto in October 2023.

Arts of Life exhibits for the first time during Art Basel Miami Beach at two fairs – NADA and Untitled Art

Arts of Life exhibits for the first time at Chicago EXPO – the city’s largest art event of the year.

Arts of Life exhibits in New York City at The Outsider Art Fair – a fair showcasing self-taught art, art brut, and outsider art from around the world.

Fueled by investments from Builders Initiative, Arts Work Fund, and the Block Family Foundation, Arts of Life launches our first community programs in Evanston with in-home supports and a partnership with the Evanston Art Center.

Arts of Life receives a three-year capacity-building grant through the Builders Initiative to expand our gallery and community programs.

Arts of Life participates in Art on theMART, the largest permanent art projection in the world, alongside the Art Institute of Chicago and Joffrey Ballet.

Arts of Life is approved as a state-licensed Community Day Service – a program outside of the individual’s residential living arrangement that focuses on the development and enhancement of daily adaptive living skills and economic self-sufficiency.

The pandemic disrupts most anniversary plans, but our Arts of Life North Shore Studio celebrates its 10th birthday at the Wilmette Theatre.

Hosea Sanders and Marissa N. Isang from ABC 7 news highlight Arts of Life.

The Chicago Cultural Center invites Arts of Life to curate an exhibition titled “In Good Company,” featuring seven artists from the studio and four from the community.

Arts of Life featured at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art A is for Artist exhibition curated by Scott Hunter showcasing 24 studio artist. 

28 Arts of Life pieces are accepted into Waisman Center’s permanent art collection and featured in the exhibition Drawn to Art.

Arts of Life’s first gallery, Circle Contemporary – Chicago, launches with year-round exhibition programing.

Arts of Life receives a three-year capacity-building grant through the Coleman Foundation and launches the Artist Enterprise Program (AEP) to advance artists’ professional development.

Chicago studio artist, Guy Conners, partners with CB2 for a limited-run print of his painting “Ice Cream Cone.”

Artist enrollment reaches 60 between the two studios.

The Arts of Life’s Teaching Artist Residency Program (TARP) begins serving schools and students in the North Shore, providing arts-based education to a broader community.

Arts of Life is selected to participate in the Chicago Community Trust’s SMART Growth program, a four-year capacity building initiative.

The North Shore band, Van Go Go, releases their first album “Get the Dinosaurs on the Phone” with a launch party at the Wilmette Theatre.

Arts of Life artwork is featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Everything in London.

Arts of Life receives the Chicago Reader’s Best Advocate for the Arts Award.

The Arts of Life Band and Dave Krueger are featured on the cover of The Chicago Reader. The corresponding cover story celebrates that Arts of Life and the band prove that “being developmentally disabled doesn’t stand in the way of rocking out.”

Arts of Life opens a second studio in Glenview, making our programming available to artists in the North Shore.

Artist enrollment reaches 30, prompting the expansion into our current larger studio in Chicago at 2010 W Carroll Ave.

The Carl Hammer Gallery represents two Arts of Life artists, Ronnie Cuclich and Sylvia Ramirez, at the New York Outsider Art Fair

People with disabilities were still rarely seen and weren’t the critical decision makers in their lives. The embarrassing state of services in Illinois motivated Denise to bring people together and create something new. Joining forces with other people with and without disabilities, they began to build what Arts of Life is today. Ronnie wanted to turn her art hobby into a career and Denny wanted everyone to have an equal voice. These tenants allowed, and continue to enable, all members to have a voice and leadership within the broader community. Arts of Life opened the first location in Chicago January 2000 with 9 founding artists, becoming the city’s first Alternative Day Program focusing on artistic vocational opportunities for people with disabilities.

Ronnie and Denise became neighbors when Ronnie moved into a CILA next door. Denise walked her dog by her house every day and eventually introduced herself and became friends with Ronnie’s housemate; who ultimately recommended Denny for a job with the agency supporting her as a case manager.